(Victor Valley)–– Congressman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) announced today that the House of Representatives had passed House Resolution 65, which condemns the Government of North Korea for “its flagrant and repeated violations of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions” and for “its repeated provocations that threaten international peace and stability.”

The resolution goes further by calling on China to prevent shipment of goods to North Korea that may use in its nuclear and missile programs. The resolution was passed in response to North Korea’s detonation of a nuclear device this past Tuesday. North Korea had previously conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. Additionally, the country maintains a ballistic missile system. Both the nuclear tests and ballistic missile systems are in direct violation of a United Nations security resolution passed in 2006.

A member of the House Foreign Affairs committee, Cook joined as a cosponsor of the bipartisan resolution, which was introduced by the Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-California) and the committee’s ranking member Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York). The resolution passed the House with overwhelming support early Friday afternoon on a 412-2 vote. Cook stated, “North Korea poses a grave threat our allies in the area and to our own national security.

I hope our allies will recommit to sanctions that will cripple the regime and continue to stand firm against what to me is an oppressive and dangerous dictatorship.” Cook served as an infantry officer and retired after 26 years as a Colonel in the US Marine Corps. During his time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.